Your Toothpaste And Tap Water Could Be Making You Depressed

Feeling under the weather? It could be coming from somewhere you don't expect.

Keep brushing, but know the facts... Image Paramount Pictures

Brushing your teeth IS good for you, and everyone should do it, but here’s the bad news – the fluoride in both your toothpaste and the water could be giving you the blues.

While fluoride naturally occurs in water, an excess could influence health issues. According to a prior study conducted by the University of Kent, researchers discovered that added fluoride might be increasing the risk for hypothyroidism or an under-active thyroid.

This comes with symptoms like fatigue, obesity, and depression. That’s right, that tube of minty freshness could be ruining your life.

Both toothpaste and the water coming out the tap contain high levels of fluoride. 10 percent of England’s water contains the substance, which 6 million Britons are affected.

Scientists discovered this by comparing the cities of Birmingham and Manchester. Birmingham’s water is chock full of fluoride while Manchester refrains from this practice.

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They found that Doctor’s offices in Birmingham are twice as likely to have cases of hypothyroidism than their neighbour up north. Suspicious indeed.

“The findings of the study raise particular concerns about the validity of community fluoridation as a safe public health measure,” wrote the study’s authors.

Why was fluoride put into the water in the first place? It was introduced to Britain in the years between 1964 and 1988 to combat public tooth decay, following on the heels of the United States who introduced the practice as far back as 1945. Ever since then, 70% of America’s water is fluoridated. Eek.

It has become a more controversial issue over time and in 2014 Public Health England abandoned plans for water fluoridation for 195,000 people in Southampton and adjacent parts of southwest Hampshire due to opposition from their councils.

Londoners however are in the clear as it’s not in the list of areas that are fluoridated. Still, double check your toothpaste – it could be killing your vibe.